Conrad Engweiler, convicted of murdering a high school classmate when he was 15, faced the parole board Tuesday in Salem. He was told his earliest release hearing could be in 2017. He was sentenced to life in 1990 for murdering Erin Reynolds. Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian.

Board Chairman Aaron Felton asked Engweiler a series of simple yes-or-no questions. His long blond hair parted in the middle and pulled back in a tight ponytail, Engweiler answered in a barely audible voice.

The board voted unanimously to impose the longest prison term possible of 28 years; he has served 22 already. Board members scheduled his exit interview for August 2017 with a projected release date of Feb. 22, 2018.

Before making its decision, the board heard statements from Erin's family, urging members to keep Engweiler locked up for as long as possible.

Engweiler appeared tearful when Greear described how Erin's murder is always in her mind, making it difficult to face even mundane tasks and ordinary pleasantries.

His young age had already protected him from receiving the death penalty or a life sentence without the chance for parole, Greear told the board. He'd received enough breaks, she said.

When part of Erin's autopsy report was read to the board, Engweiler looked pained. Her body was found with a fraying rope wrapped three times around her neck, tangled in her jacket and hair, according to the report.

Given an opportunity to have the last word, Engweiler said he'd been advised not to say anything, but there were some words he needed to say.

"I raped, I murdered, I sodomized Erin Reynolds," he began.

He understood that his crimes – not the parole board's error – were the reason he was in prison, he said.

"You guys made a mistake, but you didn't commit the crime I did," he said.

"It was a twisted, evil crime," he said. "There's no mitigating factors."

With the media coverage preceding his prison-term hearing, Engweiler had heard the voice of Erin's family, he said.

Earl and Pam Reynolds told The Oregonian earlier this week that Engweiler's numerous appeals struck them as pleas for leniency. The ongoing court activity delayed their grief and seemed to communicate that Engweiler lacked remorse, they said.

Engweiler said he had to take it upon himself, through his appeals, to see the law correctly applied in his case. He apologized for how that affected the Reynolds.

"Just one more thing," he said, growing more emotional. "Erin was my friend."

He paused, nodding and holding back tears.

"I committed this crime. There's no justification for it. I'm sorry for it. I'll always be sorry for it."